It was all I could do to simply struggle, my breathing harsh as I fought for precious air. My hand scrabbled feebly out, a pathetic motion, but I could do no more. I tried to open my eyes, but they were sealed shut with dried blood and other fluids. I lay still for I don't know how long, simply trying to rest enough to move. When I had dozed and awoken five times, I weakly lifted my hand to my eyes, and picked at them.
My right eye opened first, and I had to shut it quickly again to keep from blinding myself. After having them closed for what, hours? Days? It could have been a week and I wouldn't have known. I could wait a few more moments.
When I finally could open them both without pain, I had to rest again, my strength close to naught. I inspected my surroundings, trying to remember my own fecking name.
I was in a shadowy glade, a clearing. I furrowed my brows, and concentrated. I thought I had fallen close to town…
I was struck with unbearable pain. Every inch of me burned, like thousands of flames licking my skin in a horribly disgustingly loving manner. A thousand knives dug into the flesh of my entire body. I writhed, the suffering going on without any means of stopping. I lost myself, screaming and screaming, my nerves being ripped out from me one by one…
The torture was cut off, like the end of a rope falling from view. I panted, the action causing my throat to burn from screams.
I slightly turned my head, trying to focus on the figure hunched on the other side of the clearing. Whatever it was, it was panting, and obviously in pain. When it came into clear focus, I whimpered slightly, before gaining control.
An undead, not of the Horde, leaned on their hand that was clutching the ground, shaking from magic use. I recognized it as a Pain Vessel, one of that damn Arthas' favorites. They could torture a person for weeks, months, years…holding them in the brink of death. I waited for it to get up and finish, too terrified to even register that it would only stop for one reason, and one reason alone.
It ran out of power.
At first, I was delighted, thinking I could kill it. A few moments later my head caught up and I remembered I was on the brink of death as is.
It struggled to a standing position, and looked at me, laughing a very, very, very disturbing laugh. It was fake. All of it. The creature before me had no brain, could only do the commands and actions Arthas gave it. It was sickening, because Arthas taught it to laugh solely so it could terrify its victims.
But I was smart. I knew it had no power left to torture me endlessly. I was feeling quite triumphant, when it pulled a sword from its side.
My stomach sank, and I turned and pulled myself along the ground, knowing it was useless, but trying to run anyway. When I reached my left arm out, I nearly passed out from a pain in my ribs. Forgetting the monster in my state, I curled around the wound, hissing like a primal animal. I pulled my right hand away, to see blood run between my fingers, spilling to the bright grass below. It trickled slowly, oh so slowly down the blades, staining them murderously. I watched it drip from my side, loosing myself to some black that was enveloping my mind. My eyes drooped against my will, and I shook my head, reaching out my blood covered hand to scrabble for purchase on the blood soaked ground, driven by my instincts, my very primal instincts at the moment, to get away.
That terrible laughter sounded again, and I cringed against my will, slumping to press my face into the grass, inhaling, however shaky that was, the earthy smell that I loved.
I rolled to my back, staring resignedly to the canopy of leaves and braches high above me. The colors swirled, mixtures of blues, greens, lime, turquoise, and some slight browns. I passed in and out of consciousness, my exhaustion striking me harder than fear.
The wretchedness of the situation hit me, and I had to hold back laughter of my own as I realized just how royally fucked I was.
I heard it approaching, the uneven sounds of its foot falls ominous in my ears. I pressed a hand to my side, wincing as the foot falls came closer. Warm liquid was still trickling down my arm from the wound. I closed my eyes, pressing them tight to try to keep back tears…
-A day born. Sparkling turquoise chuckled happily under the new suns stare, sending off flashes of silver that only the ocean could give. The fiery orb in the sky glowed warmly, covering the land in a loving embrace, everything it touched feeling confidence in a new day. I laughed in pure ecstasy, turning to look into his smiling, loving blue eyes-
I snapped my eyes open, a small amount of energy found within me. I slid slowly away, finding the edge of the clearing closer than I thought. Something cold and sharp touched my hand. I looked down to it, and somehow recognized my dagger. It was made for cutting herbs and cloths, a womanly blade, but a blade none the less. I curled my fingers around it, still moving to the foresty undergrowth only a foot or so away.
Something moved in the trees to the monsters left, something snake like. My eyes slowly trailed that way, barely able to see anything more than a few yards away.
The creature came on, ignoring the sound or not hearing it. I finally reached the trees, but the monster was too close to not see me.
Suddenly a snakelike abomination erupted from the trees next to the undead. It opened its mouth and was about to scream, but the snake things deep blue blade severed its head like a knife through butter. The snake thingy –Naga, I realized when my brain caught up- paused in the clearing, and looked around, searching for any more of the things. I held my breath in, trying to become invisible.
Another naga joined the first. They were large, probably taller then me, and covered with steel hard scales. Their bottoms from waist down were snake, their tails tipped with an arrowhead like shape that was razor sharp. Their shoulders and chests were broad, almost impossibly broad. Their faces were sharp, and their cheeks prominent. They looked almost like elves, except for the fish like frills that protruded like fans from their faces back, creating a headdress look. They were a light sea color, more green than blue. Dangerous looking blue black blades were resting in their large hands comfortably. They looked like proud people; their heads held high and shoulders straight.
A third naga emerged. This one was a darker blue color, bigger than the other two. My mouth popped open in awe. I had not the energy to feel fear as the at least ten foot tall naga looked over the two seven foot ones like they were nothing. His blade was larger, blacker, but caught blue in shafts of light. His headdress was all black. He was a gorgeous creature, and I could never fear something to majestic.
They said something in their snake language. I was so shocked I didn't even try to understand. They looked around again, and moved back into the trees, silent.
I scrambled to a crawling position, my body moving numbly. I was going to feel this later, I knew. I trailed slowly towards a town; at least I thought it was a town. Was it my town? I half hoped the naga had gone there and killed the evil.
My thoughts left me as I moved slowly. I set myself into some other place, conserving energy.
When I next looked around, I was at the edge of two small lakes, the trees stopping next to me. I flopped against one, taking silent deep breathes.
Across the lake nearest were the naga. I watched them solemnly, not daring to say anything. A she-naga was with them now. She had four arms, and black, braided hair. A bow was held in one bottom hand, the top two were set on her hips. They now spoke in Common, but I only caught some of the words, and they meant nothing to me. I eventually dozed off, not caring that I could die in my little sleep.
I started awake, my hand on the blade that I couldn't recognize. I looked to where the naga were, and jolted back, gasping.
Five Blood Elves stood with them. One stood with the huge naga and the she-naga, and the others were mingled with the two naga.
The four Blood Elves that were setting about making camp looked like replicas of each other at this distance. They had the same blood red armor and blades. Their helms were the same hawk like shape.
But the fifth stood out. His blonde hair fluttered in the light breeze, a small circlet with large jewels the only covering for his head he had. His tall pale ears separated his hair over broad shoulders, showing the strong shoulder guards he wore. His armor was red as well, but seemed different. A sword was at his side, and he rested one gloved hand on the hilt comfortably. Even from here I could see his bright green eyes looking at the huge naga.
"And you say it was just walking towards trees with a sword raised?" He asked the large naga. I tensed at his voice, for it held no malice, but was quite formal.
It nodded. "Yes." It replied, its 's's were slightly drawn out, its tongue accenting the consonant. "I figured something was wrong, for it would not have so viciously been walking, unless it had a target and no magic left.
"What would be out there?" The she-naga asked the elf. "Why would it be so driven to attack? Why would something still be alive enough out there to pose a threat?"
"I do not know, Lady Vashj." He replied, holding his chin in thought. "But if it posed a threat to Arthas, it poses great threat to us." He signaled the blood elves. "We must find it and possibly kill it."
It took me a moment to process this and to realize that they were talking about me.
"In any case, did you recognize any of the bodies in town?" the blood elf began walking away, the naga slithering after.
"Well, we found bodies of those close to someone you might know…"
Their voices faded as they moved away, and I started shaking, fear beginning to hit me. I shook my head, and quickly stopped, realizing that caused serious pain. What could I possibly do? They were hunting me. The thought of those deadly blades biting into my flesh made me shudder, my last view of life the face of a majestic naga…
I had to hide. I had to run. I had to fight. I had to do something to live.
I slipped back into the shadows of the trees, moving slowly around the lake. Once on the other side, I moved away, towards the smoke clouds that rose above the trees, towards something I didn't want to find.
I splashed a bit more water on my face, making sure all of the blood was off. I paused, closing my eyes and breathing slowly, trying to not loose control.
I had found the town. I had found it, but it was not the town I had known. This place was desecrated, unrecognizable as the once beautiful place I had known it to be. I found no one still alive. Dead were strewn everywhere, and I moved past it all as quickly as my wounds would let me.
When I found the healers store, I took as many bandages I could, and struggled to a quick moving stream, putting myself back together as best I could. My side was the worst, several ribs showing, the bleeding seemingly nonstop. I wrapped it thoroughly, but by the time I had fixed everything, I was dizzy from blood loss. I was going to die, I realized, and there was nothing I could do about it.
I looked into the blue waters, tears falling freely from my eyes. They stung and bit as they moved over the many small cuts on my face. The dagger at my side looked friendly, and I pondered killing myself.
"No…" I whispered, the small sound almost silent from my voice being so raw.
Slowly, I picked myself up, and, leaning on a walking stick I found, I limped off into the trees, my only hope finding those naga.
I hadn't taken two steps into the fertile trees when I heard the all too familiar uneven footsteps of an undead. I froze against my will, memories coming back to me full force. I turned to face it, but fell over with fear and pain when I saw not one but ten of them. There were several Pain Vessels, and many other of Arthas' creatures. They looked at me for a long while, and I pulled out my dagger, ready to go down fighting.
As if on cue, the naga and Blood Elves stormed from the trees behind me, running around me and attacking the undead with ferocity. I was stunned, my muscles locked.
"Who are you?" I heard a familiar voice say behind me. I turned around, and looked up at the Blood Elf without a helm. He was staring at me incredulously, his green eyes bright, his hand with a blade falling to his side. I got a very good look at him, and blinked several times in shock. His broad chest rose and fell evenly, his strong arms flexing and relaxing. He watched me, examining me as closely as I him.
Something moved quickly behind him, and I reacted instantly.
"Look out!" I cried, and flung my dagger at the undead that was slicing at his back.
The dagger struck home in the monsters forehead, and when the blood elf looked behind him, he only saw the creature fall over backwards with a loud thump.
After a moment where we were both shocked and trying to process what had just happened, he turned and looked at me more surprised –if possible- than before.
"You just…" he trailed off, clearly confused. I too, was wondering what had just happened.
"She saved you, Prince." I heard a deep snake like voice say behind me. I suddenly noted that the sounds of battle had died from my ears. I turned, and saw the huge naga leaning over to me. The last thing I remembered before fainting was the naga scooping me up in his arms, and sliding smoothly through the trees.